title: Changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a population-based sample of children and adolescents after 3 years of follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents over a 3-year period and to examine factors associated with change.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents aged 8-18 years and their parents completed the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire at baseline and again after 3 years. Data were also collected on gender, pubertal development (PD), and family socio-economic status (SES). Change in HRQOL over time was evaluated using effect sizes (ES). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze associations among changes in KIDSCREEN scores, socio-demographic factors, and pubertal development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate at follow-up was 54% (n = 454). Overall, HRQoL worsened in eight out of the ten KIDSCREEN dimensions, with ES ranging from -0.10 (Moods and Emotions) to -0.34 (Psychological Well-being). The decrease was most marked in the intermediate age group (13-17 years of age at follow-up) and in girls. In the GEE models, pubertal development more strongly impacted changes in girls than in boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this representative, population-based sample of children and adolescents, moderate decrements in HRQoL were observed after 3 years. Changes were particularly important among girls and in relation to pubertal development. These results could provide useful reference data for other longitudinal studies in population sub-groups.
authors.affiliation: Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research, Carrer de Roc Boronat, 81-95 (2a planta), 08005, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Palacio-Vieira
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villalonga-Olives
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Valderas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espallargues
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herdman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rajmil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires